Portsmouth pays $100K-plus to 21 employees in 2013

PORTSMOUTH — The city paid $22.5 million in wages and salaries in 2013 to public employees on the “city side” of the municipal budget, which does not include the school department.

Elizabeth Dinan

PORTSMOUTH — The city paid $22.5 million in wages and salaries in 2013 to public employees on the “city side” of the municipal budget, which does not include the school department.

Earning more than $100,000 last year were 21 city-side employees, with the highest earner being City Manager John Bohenko, who topped the 2013 list with $174,795 in pay. This included contributions to Bohenko's retirement account, per terms of a contract he renewed with the city in October 2012.

Seacoastonline.com has published the complete Portsmouth 2013 wages list of all employees.

Bohenko's current contract includes provisions that the city contribute 16 percent of his pay to a deferred compensation plan, as well as 20 percent of his pay to a retirement plan through the International City Managers Association. The city manager's contract has a base pay of $143,000, with annual cost-of-living increases and a $425-a-month stipend for the lease of a car.

The second-highest earner in 2013 was Athletic Director Melvin “Rus” Wilson, who was paid $161,593 last calendar year. Wilson's pay included a payout for unused time off during his career, as a result of his notice to the city that he is retiring.

City officials stopped offering the unused-time payouts in 1996 and two years later, created a “leave at termination” fund to pay that benefit to employees hired before 1996. The payouts can be taken in a lump sum or over the last three years of employment.

Chief Building Inspector Richard Hopley was the third-highest earner on the city side of the budget with 2013 earnings of $131,696. Hopley's pay included a payout for unused time, also due to his pending retirement, according to the city.

Fire Capt. Michael Hogan was the fourth-highest earner last year with $119,325 in pay. Behind him was Finance Director Judith Belanger-Haskins, who was paid $118,195.

Police Chief Stephen DuBois was the sixth-highest earner in 2013 with $117,282 in pay, followed by police Capt. Frank Warchol, who was paid $116,943.

City Attorney Robert Sullivan was paid $116,826 in 2013, followed by fire Capt. Kenneth Smith with $115,462 in earnings. Deputy City Manager David Allen was paid $115,369, followed by Fire Capt. Todd Germain with $112,987, then police Lt. Mark Newport with $110,925.

Public Works Director Peter Rice was the 16th-highest earner on the city side of the municipal budget earning $108,061 last year, followed by police Lt. Darrin Sargent at $103,488, then fire Lt. Nelson Brett at $103,074.

Assessor Rosann Maurice-Lentz was paid $102,615, followed by police Sgt. David Keaveny at $101,371, then fire Capt. Richard Murphy Jr. at $101,369.

The lowest paid employee on the city side of the municipal budget in 2013 was an election worker paid $32.

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